Megayachts

America’s 100 Largest Yachts 2007 #1: Rising Sun

#1: RISING SUN—452'8"

Merijn de Waard/Yacht-Images.com

#1: RISING SUN—452'8"

Is the sun setting on the largest yacht in American hands? You may recall that Larry Ellison, sailor extraordinaire and Oracle software superior, lamented last year that Rising Sun is simply too big to pull into Monaco and other spots he likes to frequent. He already has a Feadship in the 260-foot range under construction to replace her, and he sold partial ownership of Rising Sun to his friend, Hollywood mogul David Geffen, so it seems he’ll walk away from this yacht, half basketball court and all. He’s put her to good use over the past three years, cruising the British Virgin Islands, observing the recent America’s Cup race in Spain from her decks (then gnashing his teeth aboard when his BMW Oracle Racing team lost), and, while we were preparing this article, visiting Venice, Italy. In fact, a friend of one of our staffers snapped pictures of the yacht in Capri, Italy, this summer, unsuspectingly capturing one of the funniest things we’ve ever seen on a yacht: a bright-blue, inflatable kiddie pool situated on the vast acreage of the aft deck. (Looks like luxury’s lost on the little ones.)